Just as in their UK counterparts, you can buy them ready prepared, but not in tins, but jars. It is also possible to buy them in a bag, dried. The only difference is the convenience factor - with the dried peas, you have to soak them overnight, then boil them for an hour and a half.

Just as with any other pea, they are an accompaniment to a meal. It is usual, when cooking them, to add other things, such as meat scraps. In the photo above, you can see that chopped carrot, onion and leek have been added. It is quite common to include thin slices of chorizo (Spanish sausage).

SAMPLE RECIPE

Ingredients

Jar of chick peas (or the dried variety, which you must prepare as outlined above)